Ahh Strep Throat
I haven't been on in a while!
The holidays are always such a busy time! My mum and I worked straight through till Christmas Eve at our market (dealing with the tremendous holiday rush of last minute shoppers), and we also had guests staying with us in our little condo. Then, on New Years Eve, I woke up with a very swollen throat and dizzingly achy fever... and slept through the countdown to 2009.
The next day I was far worse than better, couldn't even swallow my own saliva without gagging (I know, a little too much detail lol). I recognized these symptoms, and my mum and I immediately went to the local clinic so I could be tested for Strep Throat. Turned out, because it was January first, that EVERYTHING was CLOSED. I was feverish and the burn to swallow was unbearable. I just wanted that day to end.
My mum used to work as a Steno in the local Emergency Hospital, so we drove there, knowing that it would be open but that the wait would be HORRENDOUS. And ohhh it was. It seemed that everyone waiting had slipped on black ice and broken a hand or a foot. I felt so bad for everyone! I was admitted, and after I told the nurses I thought I had strep throat, they all stood back a little. I had my blood pressure taken (which kinda hurts the arm a bit). I must have been babbling like a loon while one of the nurses was doing this, because the nurse next to her asked if I was dehydrated lol! I replied that, no, I wasn't dehydrated, I was just very sleep deprived and feverish.
So after about two hours the doctor called me into a little room, and proceeded to check my throat (which was swelled up like a pair of golf balls). He remarked on the little patches of white that was on my tonsils, a sign of strep. But, because it's not good to give out anti-biotics unless you're sure you have a bacterial infection, I was tested for mono (a virus, which if diagnosed, goes untreated because the side effects aren't as life threatening as strep).
So the nurse came in to draw some blood, something which doesn't bother me at all now, but terrified me as a child. She was nice, but in a hurry, and didn't read the directions, so I had my blood drawn twice. Not fun, but I survived :P Then I waited about two hours for the blood results to come back negative, and I was prescribed the anti-biotics.
My mum and I drove home rather tired, but definitely cheery. I've had strep before, and I remember that once you begin the anti-biotics, you feel noticeably better within 24 hrs, and then after another 24, you're pretty much "fixed" and healthy again. Anti-biotics are such a godsend!
She planned on doing some shopping at superstore to pick up my prescription of drugs and icecream (yes, a doctor prescribed icecream hehe). She dropped me off first because I was so woozy, and called me soon after saying ALLLLLL of the pharmacies were CLOSED. OMFG I nearly broke down in tears. I would have to wait another day until I would get the meds. And strep doesn't get better over time.
So I lied in bed, my throat throbbing, my body achying and hot, and stared at the clock until it was 8 in the morning. I sluggishly woke my mum up, and asked her to go and get the meds. Then I collapsed on my bed. She came back with the antibiotics, and all was saved!
The sweetest thing happened that same day. A friend of mine, who I haven't known for long, stopped by and surprised me with a get well soon care package... *beams* it was so absolutely sweet of her... I was just so happy! Everyone loves to feel special! XD She gave me chocolate, magazines, a card, a novel and movie to borrow, and a cute zebra stuffed animal!!! She's so darned thoughtful XD I'll have to repay the favour!
And now, I'm pretty much good as new! :)
Though I do wonder... while I was sick and lying on an air mattress in the living room (don't ask lol), watching the pride and prejudice mini series which I borrowed from the library (ofcourse the bbc version with Colin Firth clad in the wet shirt etc..) I wondered how people in those days dealt with such ailments without aid of modern medicine, or even antibiotics (which are a rather modern discovery). I guess that's why not many people lived over forty, and had children at sixteen (and bred like rabbits to maintain the species).
Aahh this is a long and rambly post, I am sorry! Just thought I'd update what's been going on in my life recently! :)
The holidays are always such a busy time! My mum and I worked straight through till Christmas Eve at our market (dealing with the tremendous holiday rush of last minute shoppers), and we also had guests staying with us in our little condo. Then, on New Years Eve, I woke up with a very swollen throat and dizzingly achy fever... and slept through the countdown to 2009.
The next day I was far worse than better, couldn't even swallow my own saliva without gagging (I know, a little too much detail lol). I recognized these symptoms, and my mum and I immediately went to the local clinic so I could be tested for Strep Throat. Turned out, because it was January first, that EVERYTHING was CLOSED. I was feverish and the burn to swallow was unbearable. I just wanted that day to end.
My mum used to work as a Steno in the local Emergency Hospital, so we drove there, knowing that it would be open but that the wait would be HORRENDOUS. And ohhh it was. It seemed that everyone waiting had slipped on black ice and broken a hand or a foot. I felt so bad for everyone! I was admitted, and after I told the nurses I thought I had strep throat, they all stood back a little. I had my blood pressure taken (which kinda hurts the arm a bit). I must have been babbling like a loon while one of the nurses was doing this, because the nurse next to her asked if I was dehydrated lol! I replied that, no, I wasn't dehydrated, I was just very sleep deprived and feverish.
So after about two hours the doctor called me into a little room, and proceeded to check my throat (which was swelled up like a pair of golf balls). He remarked on the little patches of white that was on my tonsils, a sign of strep. But, because it's not good to give out anti-biotics unless you're sure you have a bacterial infection, I was tested for mono (a virus, which if diagnosed, goes untreated because the side effects aren't as life threatening as strep).
So the nurse came in to draw some blood, something which doesn't bother me at all now, but terrified me as a child. She was nice, but in a hurry, and didn't read the directions, so I had my blood drawn twice. Not fun, but I survived :P Then I waited about two hours for the blood results to come back negative, and I was prescribed the anti-biotics.
My mum and I drove home rather tired, but definitely cheery. I've had strep before, and I remember that once you begin the anti-biotics, you feel noticeably better within 24 hrs, and then after another 24, you're pretty much "fixed" and healthy again. Anti-biotics are such a godsend!
She planned on doing some shopping at superstore to pick up my prescription of drugs and icecream (yes, a doctor prescribed icecream hehe). She dropped me off first because I was so woozy, and called me soon after saying ALLLLLL of the pharmacies were CLOSED. OMFG I nearly broke down in tears. I would have to wait another day until I would get the meds. And strep doesn't get better over time.
So I lied in bed, my throat throbbing, my body achying and hot, and stared at the clock until it was 8 in the morning. I sluggishly woke my mum up, and asked her to go and get the meds. Then I collapsed on my bed. She came back with the antibiotics, and all was saved!
The sweetest thing happened that same day. A friend of mine, who I haven't known for long, stopped by and surprised me with a get well soon care package... *beams* it was so absolutely sweet of her... I was just so happy! Everyone loves to feel special! XD She gave me chocolate, magazines, a card, a novel and movie to borrow, and a cute zebra stuffed animal!!! She's so darned thoughtful XD I'll have to repay the favour!
And now, I'm pretty much good as new! :)
Though I do wonder... while I was sick and lying on an air mattress in the living room (don't ask lol), watching the pride and prejudice mini series which I borrowed from the library (ofcourse the bbc version with Colin Firth clad in the wet shirt etc..) I wondered how people in those days dealt with such ailments without aid of modern medicine, or even antibiotics (which are a rather modern discovery). I guess that's why not many people lived over forty, and had children at sixteen (and bred like rabbits to maintain the species).
Aahh this is a long and rambly post, I am sorry! Just thought I'd update what's been going on in my life recently! :)